There were several hundred Shadow-Shooting Insects in the swarm, in a riot of colors, though most were pink. Large and small, they crawled toward them in a dense mass, but none of the brilliant red insects like the one they had just killed were anywhere to be seen.
Li Qiang was truly anxious now. With the Crimson Flame Dragon Shield protecting him, he was in little danger, but the other three could not possibly hold them off. He fired out dozens of golden eagles in succession, which circled above their heads. Whenever a large insect approached, a golden eagle immediately swooped down with a cry and blasted it away.
Mei Jingjing was frightened, but she screwed up her courage and kept lashing her whip, sniffling and sobbing as she entangled the Shadow-Shooting Insects that slipped through. Zhao Hao ran back and forth, knocking down the spikes fired at them. Zheng Peng benefited from his weapon's reach, hacking the entangled insects to death one axe blow after another while shouting, "I'll chop you dead! I'll chop you dead!" Their division of labor was surprisingly seamless.
In no time, smoke rose from the fighting and flesh and blood flew everywhere.
At last, Li Qiang finished setting up the defensive formation and shouted, "Everyone, get close to me! I'm activating the formation!" He raised his hand, and the golden eagles scattered and plunged downward. A string of explosions blasted the insects far away. Li Qiang channeled his true essence power and activated the formation.
Panting heavily, Zhao Hao said, "Master, this is all your disciple's fault. I led everyone here."
Li Qiang relaxed a little. "Don't be silly. Nobody blames you. The man who stole the liquor deliberately lured us here."
The densely packed insects slammed into the defensive formation. It was as though a glass bowl had been placed over the four of them; however the insects charged, they could not advance so much as half a step.
They were safe for the moment.
Mei Jingjing patted her chest. "How terrifying! Thank goodness you know how to set up a defensive formation, big brother. With so many bugs charging at us together, none of us would have survived. You're amazing!"
Hearing her lavish flattery on Li Qiang, Zheng Peng chuckled. "I, Heizi, chopped loads of bugs dead too. Little sister, how about praising me a bit?"
Mei Jingjing rolled her eyes at him. "In your dreams! Don't even think about it!"
Listening to their banter, Zhao Hao thought, The young truly don't know the taste of sorrow. The Shadow-Shooting Insects appearing now are only ordinary strange insects. If a large beast comes along, we'll really be in trouble.
Li Qiang smiled. "Niuniu, that little mouth of yours is so sweet. Are you after something?"
Mei Jingjing clapped happily. "Oh, you guessed right! Big brother, will you teach your little sister how to set up formations?"
Li Qiang thought for a moment, then asked, "Niuniu, what level have you cultivated to?"
Mei Jingjing grew a little bashful. "I've just been fumbling along. Mother said I'm almost at the Illumination Stage."
Li Qiang was surprised. "That's not right. How could your level be so low? I thought you'd already reached the Fusion Realm. Hold still and let me take a look."
Li Qiang sent out a strand of true essence to examine her carefully, thinking, Her cultivation method is so strange. Her level is at the early Illumination Stage, lower than Zhao Hao's, yet her true essence power has reached a level only attainable in the Fusion Realm.
He also asked for her whip to examine it, and found its exquisite craftsmanship and ingenious design worthy of admiration. Its power could actually grow along with its wielder's cultivation. Unable to fathom its secrets, Li Qiang shook his head and thought, Big Brother Fu would certainly understand if he were here.
He told Mei Jingjing, "Niuniu, I don't know whether you can learn it. But when I have some free time, I'll refine a protective item for you." Mei Jingjing smiled happily.
Zheng Peng asked, "Can I stand inside the formation and chop at the bugs outside?"
Li Qiang shook his head. "No."
It suddenly occurred to Li Qiang that although weapons could not pass out of the formation, the energy released by them ought to be able to shoot out. He tried shaking the Hundred-Blade Spear, sending out a spear spike formed from energy. With a soft pop, the spike dissipated inside the defensive formation.
Li Qiang sighed. "We're trapped. Everyone, rest for now. Let me think of another way."
Mei Jingjing was playing with two blue beads. Seeing them, Zheng Peng said, "Little sister, here, take this big bead. I was only teasing you earlier."
Mei Jingjing took the blue bead and said despondently, "I know."
Zhao Hao looked at Li Qiang, who had sunk into thought, and said dejectedly, "Alas, I've dragged everyone down."
Mei Jingjing gently reassured him. "Old sir, it's not your fault. Don't lose heart. I have faith in big brother! Look, even with all these bugs, we haven't been hurt."
Zheng Peng added, "That's right. I know our young brother will find a way."
After thinking for a long time without finding an answer, Li Qiang stood up. "None of you leave the formation. I'll go out and kill them for a while. Don't worry. With the Crimson Flame Dragon Shield protecting me, these insects can't hurt me."
Mei Jingjing grabbed Li Qiang. "Don't go, big brother! There are too many bugs. It's dangerous!"
Zhao Hao said, "Master, I'll go with you." Zheng Peng also clamored to go.
Li Qiang barked, "None of you are to move! Stay in the formation and wait!"
Mei Jingjing's lips puckered, and her eyes reddened. Li Qiang saw trouble coming; if the girl started crying, things would become difficult. He hurriedly soothed her in a gentle voice. "Niuniu, don't worry. Nothing will happen. Don't you trust your big brother's abilities? Be good and wait here. Once I've killed the bugs, I'll find you some beads to play with." Only after exhausting his sweet talk and every means at his disposal did he manage to stop her tears.
Zhao Hao said quietly, "Master, don't go too far. If anything goes wrong, retreat into the formation immediately, and we'll think of something else. Be careful!"
Li Qiang activated the Crimson Flame Dragon Shield and leaped into the mass of insects, gripping the Hundred-Blade Spear.
Mei Jingjing nervously covered her eyes, not daring to look any longer. Zhao Hao and Zheng Peng watched Li Qiang intently, both intending to rush over and help the moment anything went wrong.
Seeing someone emerge, the Shadow-Shooting Insects squealed excitedly at the delicacy before them and surged forward in a dense mass.
Li Qiang's scalp prickled. "Come on, then!" he roared. He whirled the Hundred-Blade Spear, and countless silvery-white spear spikes flew outward from where he stood. Amid a string of sharp impacts, the insects were knocked far away.
As he fought, Li Qiang pondered. Only now did he realize there was a flaw in his weapons' design. The power of the weapons he had refined this time could not be adjusted, nor could they release manifested energy according to an opponent's strength. This consumed true essence too quickly, making it easy to run out of strength and impossible to sustain a prolonged battle. He would have to refine them anew later. In that moment of distraction, a Shadow-Shooting Insect leaped onto his back from behind.
Through the gaps between her fingers, Mei Jingjing saw the insect jump onto Li Qiang's back. Her heart clenched, and she rushed out with a scream, raising her hand to lash her whip.
Shocked, Zhao Hao and Zheng Peng hurried out of the formation. Zhao Hao's treasured saber swept like a raging storm, immediately forcing back the surrounding insects. Zheng Peng swung his long axe, relying on his great size and strength. Pivoting at the waist, he swept it around in full horizontal arcs.
All three were plunged into a bitter fight.
The Crimson Flame Dragon Shield's effectiveness was indeed extraordinary, its counterattacking force unimaginably powerful. The Shadow-Shooting Insect's mouthparts stabbed toward Li Qiang's neck like lightning. Just before they could pierce him, an immense force rebounded, crushing the insect until it split open and breathed its last. Li Qiang was delighted. This was a good method. He put away his spear and concentrated on operating the Crimson Flame Dragon Shield.
Gradually, Li Qiang began to understand why the Crimson Flame Dragon Shield was so formidable.
Every burst of manifested energy released by the Hundred-Blade Spear and Eagle Strike Crossbow was equal in strength. Against a weak opponent, it could certainly kill in a single blow, but the excess energy was wasted. Against an opponent with strong defenses, the manifested energy was insufficient to kill, wasting even more energy.
The Crimson Flame Dragon Shield was different. It was a defensive weapon that counterattacked passively, adjusting to the force of the incoming attack and responding with exactly the right amount, without wasting any energy-unless the opponent was stronger than its wielder.
A shrill scream rang out. It was Niuniu's voice.
Li Qiang's heart lurched at the sound. He discovered that Zhao Hao and the others had actually left the formation, and all three were already in imminent danger.
Li Qiang was so frantic that his eyes reddened. Recklessly expending his true essence, he released golden eagles until the sky was filled with them in an instant. He was going all out.
Li Qiang rushed to the three like a whirlwind, scooped up Mei Jingjing with one arm, and grabbed Zheng Peng by the collar with his other hand, flinging him into the formation first. Zhao Hao was a clever man. Without waiting for his master to grab him, he leaped back into the formation, slashing a Shadow-Shooting Insect away as he went.
Caught off guard as Li Qiang swept her up, Mei Jingjing let out a soft cry. She was so embarrassed that even her hands went limp, and her heart pounded as though a great drum were beating inside her.
Back inside the formation, Li Qiang's face was deathly pale. He had consumed far too much true essence. He set Mei Jingjing down and immediately sat without a word, taking out an immortal stone to replenish his spent true essence.
Blushing, Mei Jingjing stuck her little tongue out at Zhao Hao and whispered, "Old sir, if big brother scolds me, you have to help Niuniu."
Zhao Hao nodded, thinking, Master probably won't scold you. If he scolds anyone, I'll be first in the line of fire.
Outside the formation, the golden eagles cried as they plunged toward the Shadow-Shooting Insects. Earth-shaking explosions echoed through the heavens.
The exploding golden eagles ignited the surrounding vegetation.
A great fire blazed up.
Zhao Hao marveled at the defensive formation's power. Despite the raging fire and thick smoke outside, they were completely unaffected within.
Unable to withstand the scorching fire and smoke, the Shadow-Shooting Insects fled. Almost all the injured and weaker ones died.
The fire gradually died down. Looking worriedly at Li Qiang, Mei Jingjing asked, "Old sir, do you think big brother is in danger?"
Zhao Hao shook his head. "He's in no danger. Master simply used too much true essence. He'll recover shortly. It's all right, Niuniu. Don't worry." He added, "Whatever you do, don't disturb him."
Zheng Peng said, "The fire's out. I'll go take a look."
Zhao Hao hurriedly said, "I'll go with you. Niuniu, look after Master. We won't go far."
Mei Jingjing nodded, then suddenly thought of something. "Heizi, find some beads for Niuniu!" The girl simply loved shiny things.
Li Qiang slowly absorbed the refined energy within the immortal stone in his hand, steadily replenishing his true essence.
In fact, he had not yet fully mastered the Purple Flame Heart's functions. He had no need to use other immortal stones to replenish his true essence; he had absorbed and assimilated less than one-sixth of the Purple Flame Heart's own energy. Unfortunately, Fu Shan was not there to guide him. Li Qiang could only grope like a blind man feeling an elephant, exploring on his own.
Although his eyes were closed, his senses grew increasingly keen. Suddenly, everything before him became bright, and Li Qiang seemed to sink clearly into his own body. To his astonishment, a tiny figure sitting cross-legged appeared inside him, only the size of a fist, rising and falling within a ball of purple flame.
Looking closely, he saw exquisitely detailed brows, eyes, ears, and nose, all identical to his own. It wore the Stars Filling the Sky Armor. A thought stirred in Li Qiang's mind, and he realized this was his Purple Mansion Nascent Soul. He seemed to have only just formed, and what enveloped him had to be the Purple Flame Heart.
Li Qiang tried sinking his consciousness into the Nascent Soul and immediately discovered that the Nascent Soul was another self, except that he was composed of pure refined energy.
He tried exchanging energy between the Nascent Soul and his physical body. Purple flames of light began slowly radiating from the Nascent Soul, flowing continuously into his body. In just a short while, Li Qiang felt his cultivation power had advanced greatly. Not only had his expended true essence been replenished, it was even purer than before. Li Qiang himself did not yet know that he had cultivated to the realm of an undying soul.
Mei Jingjing did not dare disturb Li Qiang and merely watched him without blinking. She herself did not understand why she cared so much about him after only a few short days.
When Li Qiang opened his eyes, he saw her worried gaze. Touched, he said, "Niuniu, it's all right. I'm fine now. Huh? The insects are gone?"
Mei Jingjing said happily, "Big brother, the bugs all burned to death. Old sir and Heizi are checking outside. Are-are you really all right?"
Li Qiang rose with a smile. "Yes, Niuniu, don't worry. Hehe, they're back." He thought, This time, misfortune really turned into a blessing. Not only did my cultivation advance to the sixth level, the middle stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, and form a Purple Mansion Nascent Soul, my greatest gain was meeting these three friends, who were actually willing to risk their lives for my safety. In truth, had he himself been any different?
Returning to the formation, Zhao Hao said, "Master, we need to leave here as soon as possible. This time there were only Shadow-Shooting Insects, and no beasts appeared. If we encounter beasts, they'll be even harder to fight."
Mei Jingjing said in alarm, "There are beasts too? No wonder this place is called Soul-Startling Slope. Niuniu's scared to death!" Then she caught sight of Heizi and cried, "Wow, so many beads! They're so pretty. Give them to me!" Li Qiang and Zhao Hao exchanged smiles. This little girl really was amusing.
The beads came in various sizes and colors. Li Qiang casually picked one up, puzzled. Animals on Earth never produced such glittering, translucent beads inside their bodies; at most there were pearls, ox bezoars, horse concretions, and the like. He tried probing into the bead with his true essence, then was startled and flung it away.
"What's wrong?" everyone asked in surprise.
Before their voices had faded, a low reverberation spread outward, and a blast of cold wind struck their faces. Thick ice crystals had actually formed where the bead exploded.
Mei Jingjing exclaimed, "Oh, how strange! Why did it freeze?"
Li Qiang said fearfully, "The structure inside this bead is so peculiar. It actually has two layers. My true essence power activated it, and when the two layers mixed, it exploded." As he finished, a thought suddenly struck him: wouldn't this make an excellent offensive bomb?
Mei Jingjing smiled. "Isn't this an ice blast bomb? Wonderful! If a beast comes out, we'll treat it to one and freeze it to death!"
"I'm hungry. Let's get going!"
"All right, let's go together."
Li Qiang withdrew the defensive formation, and the four of them headed onward.
A faint fragrance of liquor drifted toward them on the breeze.
Zhao Hao sniffed and asked quietly, "Do you smell something? Yes, it must be the man who stole the liquor yesterday. He's still here! Just watch how I deal with him." The thought made him angry. They had fought earth-shaking battles for much of the day, while this fellow hid here drinking. The four crept over quietly.
"Stop looking! I'm up here!" A flippant voice rang out from a towering tree.
The man sat high on a forked branch, swinging his legs. Holding the bottle, he finished the last mouthful and grinned. "Good liquor! Good liquor! Truly good liquor! Hey, kid, do you have any more of this? I'll buy it."
Zhao Hao was furious. Kicking repeatedly against the trunk, he sprang upward and slashed diagonally with his treasured saber. Without even looking, the man traced a circle with his toe and forced him back down. Zhao Hao shouted, "Come down here, and let's have a proper fight!"
Li Qiang had said nothing, observing carefully. Only after Fu Shan took him away from Earth had he understood the saying that beyond every great man stood another, and beyond every heaven lay another heaven. He dared underestimate no one.
"You're not qualified. Even all four of you together wouldn't be enough!" Though he spoke, the man did not come down. He added, "Kid, what country is this China, and where is Sichuan Province? I really am poorly informed."
Li Qiang was badly startled. Only after a moment's thought did he realize the man had read the label on the liquor bottle.
Zheng Peng looked at the tree. It was too tall for him to climb, but he had another solution. Spitting into his palms, he rubbed his hands together, raised his great axe, and walked beneath the tree. With a grunt, he began chopping away with a clatter of blows. The tree was enormous, but so was Zheng Peng's axe.
The man shouted from the tree, "Hey, big lummox! Is your family short of firewood? There are little trees nearby that are easier to chop. Don't cut this one! If you chop it down, I'll fall!"
Mei Jingjing lost patience and lashed out with her long whip. "Get down here!" A white shadow flew toward the man. Yet the moment it reached him, it vanished without a sound. Mei Jingjing covered her mouth with her little hand in astonishment. She had never seen anyone neutralize it like that.
Unhurriedly, Li Qiang took out a bottle of Maotai, opened it, and smiled. "Everyone, come taste this superb liquor I brought. Heizi, stop chopping. Let him stay up in the tree as long as he likes."
Li Qiang's move was devastating. Maotai was a richly fragrant liquor, and as soon as the cap came off, its fragrance truly spread everywhere. After a single sniff, Zhao Hao cheered loudly. "Master, this is excellent liquor! So fragrant! After all that tiring work, hehe, let your disciple have some."
Mei Jingjing curled her lip. "You men just love drinking. What's so fragrant about it?"
"Save some for me!" Zheng Peng abandoned the tree and hurried over to grab a drink.
The man was truly dumbfounded. He had never imagined Li Qiang would have more liquor. As its fragrance wafted over, it was as though a little hand kept scratching inside his throat. On this trip away from Bada Star, he had been set up, and only liquor could relieve the affliction. His craving was simply unimaginable. Seeing such fine liquor without being able to drink it made him utterly miserable. His eyes rolled as he thought, If I can't get my hands on that fine bottle, I'll lose all face.
With a light spring of his legs, he drifted slowly down from the tree like a leaf. Having displayed this feat, he looked smugly at the four, only to find that not one of them even glanced at him. He cursed inwardly, put on a smile, and sauntered over.
Zhao Hao admired his master inwardly. The three of them had tried everything without getting the man out of the tree, yet as soon as his master produced a bottle of fine liquor, the man obediently delivered himself to their door.
The man coughed. "Young brother, well, this, that, um, the liquor, and so on..."
Li Qiang thought, This man must be an absolute drunkard. Judging by how he handled Niuniu's whip, he's also a rare cultivation expert. Yet despite loving liquor so much, he refuses to seize it by force. Though he used a trick yesterday, he still left ten taels of gold. Hmm, I'll tease him a little. Li Qiang had not actually held a grudge against him.
The four were remarkably in tune. Without prior agreement, they all ignored him, as though he were invisible.
The man was dumbfounded. Usually full of clever tricks and feared by everyone who met him, he had now been stumped by a mere bottle of liquor. A mischievous smile suddenly appeared on his face. White light flashed, and he vanished.
"Huh? He left," Zhao Hao said in surprise. All four knew he would not leave so easily.
Sure enough, a moment later, the man came running back, shouting and yelling.
An enormous beast was actually pursuing him!
The man rushed up beside Li Qiang, pulled a face, and said cheerfully, "I accidentally provoked a Gold Crystal Horn Beast. Haha, I'm scared of it. Off I go!" With a flash of white light, he was back in the tree, watching the spectacle at his leisure.